New Delhi – The Delhi air quality crisis persisted on Tuesday with the Air Quality Index remaining firmly in the ‘very poor’ category and forecast to deteriorate further to ‘severe’ levels. According to data from the Sameer app, the AQI in the Capital stands at 309, indicating that the Delhi air quality crisis shows no signs of immediate improvement. This ongoing environmental emergency has engulfed the city in haze, affecting millions of residents and raising serious health concerns.
The Delhi air quality crisis entered a critical phase at the start of November when the AQI slipped into the ‘very poor’ category. Since then, pollution levels have consistently remained at dangerous levels, with the Central Pollution Control Board recording an average AQI of 309 based on data collected until 4 pm on Monday.
Regional Variations in Pollution Levels
The Delhi air quality crisis manifests differently across various parts of the capital, with some areas experiencing significantly worse conditions than others. Alipur recorded the poorest air quality at an alarming AQI of 421, placing it in the ‘severe’ category. This represents one of the worst-affected areas in the current Delhi air quality crisis, exposing residents to extremely hazardous breathing conditions.
In contrast, Sri Aurobindo Marg recorded the lowest AQI reading at 152, still classified as ‘moderate’ but significantly better than other monitoring stations. This variation demonstrates how the Delhi air quality crisis affects different neighborhoods with varying intensity, likely due to factors including traffic density, industrial activity, and local geography.
Continuous Very Poor Category Status
The Delhi air quality crisis has maintained its grip on the capital for three consecutive days. Haze enveloped Delhi on Monday as the air quality index remained in the ‘very poor’ category for the third straight day. The 24-hour average AQI stood at 309 at 4 pm, representing a slight improvement from Sunday when it was recorded at 366 in the same category at the identical time.
This persistent pattern in the Delhi air quality crisis indicates that despite minor fluctuations, the overall pollution situation remains critically poor without substantial improvement. The consistency of dangerous air quality levels underscores the severity of the environmental emergency facing the capital.
Data Quality and Monitoring Concerns
The Delhi air quality crisis monitoring has revealed concerning gaps in data collection. Three stations in Delhi showed ‘moderate’ air quality on Monday, including ITO, a busy traffic intersection with an AQI reading of 188. However, closer examination revealed significant issues with the monitoring system during the Delhi air quality crisis.
The ITO station had several hours of missing data, raising questions about the reliability of readings during the Delhi air quality crisis. Data on the Sameer app showed AQI at ITO as low as 80 (satisfactory) at 8 am on Monday, creating confusion about actual pollution levels. These data gaps complicate efforts to accurately assess and respond to the Delhi air quality crisis.
Forecast Predicts Further Deterioration
The Delhi air quality crisis is expected to worsen before showing any improvement. According to the Early Warning System (EWS) bulletin issued on Sunday, air quality is forecast to deteriorate further to touch the ‘severe’ level on Tuesday. This represents a significant escalation in the Delhi air quality crisis, potentially triggering emergency pollution control measures.
The forecast indicates that the Delhi air quality crisis will return to ‘very poor’ levels again on Wednesday, suggesting continued dangerous breathing conditions for at least several more days. This pattern of deterioration followed by marginal improvement characterizes the cyclical nature of Delhi’s pollution problems.
Meteorological Factors Contributing to Crisis
An approaching western disturbance is expected to lead to atmospheric stagnation, exacerbating the Delhi air quality crisis. This weather pattern typically reduces wind speeds and prevents the dispersion of pollutants, trapping them close to ground level where they affect human health most severely.
Wind patterns showed some variation during the Delhi air quality crisis, with speeds touching 10 km/hr on Sunday before declining to 5 km/hr on Monday. Meteorologist Mahesh Palawat from Skymet noted these changes, while another meteorologist Navdeep Dahiya warned that a fresh layer of smog might be expected on November 4 and November 5.
Forecast System Updates Missing
Concerns about the Delhi air quality crisis response are compounded by the absence of updated forecasts. No updated forecast was issued on Monday, and the Decision Support System, which provides breakup of Delhi’s pollution sources, also remained unupdated. This lack of current information during the Delhi air quality crisis hampers both public awareness and administrative decision-making.
The western disturbance is predicted to negatively affect AQI on November 4 and November 5, potentially deepening the Delhi air quality and exposing residents to even more hazardous pollution levels during this critical period.
